I join your other readers, I was blown away by the latest chapter. Powerful storytelling. And you've neatly tucked away still the bombshell that James' brother unleashed. Still looking forward to the full story on that one.
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Brad's Search
- Thread starter AstareGod
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vater292
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The lean, mean, writing machine is back! (Well, I don't know so much about mean...)
After months of on-again, off-again writing, I've got some new material for you finally!
Also, I've done this in some previous parts, but it's not a very common literary technique, so I thought I'd explain it a little bit to help eliminate confusion. The topic is multi-paragraph quotes, where something a character says spans more than one paragraph. This page I found helps explain it, but in essence:
Blah blah blah blah blah, let's get to the story! More to come soon!
Enjoy!
---
Part 47
All of us go to a late Sunday brunch at a very nice restaurant in the Pearl District. Troy, Olivia, Barry, and Geraldine join us, and we have a great time making small talk and getting to know one another. It turns out Troy and Olivia both work at the same real estate office. I can see why Patrick went into real estate as his career. Barry runs his own software business, and Geraldine helps him out with the customers and accounting. He and I certainly had a lot to talk about.
We all head back to the hotel, with both sets of parents in tow. We sit and keep talking while Patrick and Damon go into their bedroom and change into their suits. They emerge and are looking very sharp.
Patrick bursts out in song. "All right, everyone! We're going to the courthouse and we're gonna get ma-ah-ahrried!"
Both sets of parents hug and kiss their sons and sons-in-law-to-be, and all of us congratulate them. As they head out the door, Damon looks at us excitedly. "Next time you see us, we'll be married!" Such a weird thing to say, but that's the world we live in. With that, they are out the door.
The rest of us head to the church to make sure everything is in order for the reception. Two bartenders from Freddie's bar arrive minutes later with enough liquor to put a few elephants to sleep. Hadim and Charles start inventorying all of the food to make sure we have a full buffet. James and I help out wherever we can. Some members of Patrick and Damon's extended family arrive too.
After some time passes by, we get a call from Patrick and Damon. They are now officially married! While they're on their way back from Vancouver for the ceremony and reception, we take care of a few last-minute things, and make sure the minister and organist are ready for when they arrive.
Troy, Olivia, Barry, and Geraldine wait for Patrick and Damon outside the front doors of the church. The rest of us sit right up front, and the minister and organist get into position.
James rests his hand on my knee. "This is quite the wedding."
"You can say that again."
"Do you envision your wedding being this elaborate?"
"To be honest, I didn't think I would have ever had the chance to walk down the aisle."
"Why do you say that?"
"Just because I've been in one failed relationship after another. I didn't think I'd ever meet a guy worth marrying."
He tilts his head. "Do you still think that?"
I turn my head in his direction and give him a kiss. "Of course not. You've helped me to believe that's possible again."
He smiles and squeezes my thigh.
I continue, "What about you? What do you envision your wedding to be like?"
"I've always wanted a smaller kind of ceremony. I wanted both of my parents to be there, but of course that's not possible anymore. And having my brother there is probably still out of the question."
I gaze into his eyes. His expression turns to one of slight confusion. "What?"
"Do you think we could work as a married couple?"
He smiles. "Absolutely. I'm very willing to give it a try. If I didn't think it could work, I wouldn't be sitting right here next to you."
Right as he kisses me, Patrick and Damon arrive at the church, and the organist begins playing. The sudden music startles both of us. Just as rehearsed yesterday, Troy and Olivia make their way up the aisle, followed by Barry and Geraldine, and, finally, the now ironically just-married couple. Boy, the hoops we have to jump through as gay people.
Once everyone is in position at the front of the church, the ceremony goes according to plan. The minister opens, and Patrick and Damon exchange their vows and their rings. We all erupt in applause the moment Patrick and Damon kiss. Their smiles are beaming as they hold each other's hand and practically skip down the aisle to the back of the church. Both sets of parents are just as ecstatic as they make their way down the aisle, following Patrick and Damon.
The rest of us head out of the church and make our way to the reception. Hadim and Charles spring into action, making sure all the food is ready, while Freddie and his team of bartenders start making drinks.
Patrick and Damon appear, and we all erupt in applause again. They walk up to a microphone that's set up through the PA so everyone can hear.
Damon begins, "Thank you all for being here. This is a very special day for Patrick and me, and we appreciate each and every one of you for coming.
"As many of you know, Patrick and I met in high school, and even though it took a while for us to realize it, we were meant for each other. We spent the next sixteen years loving each other more and more with each passing day. Now, we're thrilled to be able to call one another 'husband', and we cannot thank you enough for your support every single step of the way."
Patrick speaks up next. "To our parents, we couldn't have done it and we wouldn't be here without all of your love and support. We also want to thank our most amazing friends; without your help, none of this would have been possible." He then turns to Damon. "But what I'm most thankful for is you. You’ve never given up on me and you continue to amaze me with your capacity for love. I can't wait to see what the next several decades have in store for us, and I wouldn't want to go through them without you by my side. I love you, babe."
"I love you, too."
With that, Patrick and Damon kiss, and the reception hall echoes in applause again. They step away from the mic and we all grab food and drinks and visit amongst each other. James and I get to meet more of Patrick and Damon's extended family. Everyone seems so accepting and supportive of their relationship. That's something I've almost taken for granted, but I know James hasn't had it that easy at all.
Hours and hours of food, drinks, dancing, toasting, and conversing later, the reception comes to a close. Patrick and Damon head back to the hotel, presumably for some post-wedding bliss. The rest of us help clean up and pack away all the leftover alcohol. When we're done, we head back to the hotel, pack up, check out, and begin our journey back to Seattle.
After months of on-again, off-again writing, I've got some new material for you finally!
Also, I've done this in some previous parts, but it's not a very common literary technique, so I thought I'd explain it a little bit to help eliminate confusion. The topic is multi-paragraph quotes, where something a character says spans more than one paragraph. This page I found helps explain it, but in essence:
Blah blah blah blah blah, let's get to the story! More to come soon!
Enjoy!
---
Part 47
All of us go to a late Sunday brunch at a very nice restaurant in the Pearl District. Troy, Olivia, Barry, and Geraldine join us, and we have a great time making small talk and getting to know one another. It turns out Troy and Olivia both work at the same real estate office. I can see why Patrick went into real estate as his career. Barry runs his own software business, and Geraldine helps him out with the customers and accounting. He and I certainly had a lot to talk about.
We all head back to the hotel, with both sets of parents in tow. We sit and keep talking while Patrick and Damon go into their bedroom and change into their suits. They emerge and are looking very sharp.
Patrick bursts out in song. "All right, everyone! We're going to the courthouse and we're gonna get ma-ah-ahrried!"
Both sets of parents hug and kiss their sons and sons-in-law-to-be, and all of us congratulate them. As they head out the door, Damon looks at us excitedly. "Next time you see us, we'll be married!" Such a weird thing to say, but that's the world we live in. With that, they are out the door.
The rest of us head to the church to make sure everything is in order for the reception. Two bartenders from Freddie's bar arrive minutes later with enough liquor to put a few elephants to sleep. Hadim and Charles start inventorying all of the food to make sure we have a full buffet. James and I help out wherever we can. Some members of Patrick and Damon's extended family arrive too.
After some time passes by, we get a call from Patrick and Damon. They are now officially married! While they're on their way back from Vancouver for the ceremony and reception, we take care of a few last-minute things, and make sure the minister and organist are ready for when they arrive.
Troy, Olivia, Barry, and Geraldine wait for Patrick and Damon outside the front doors of the church. The rest of us sit right up front, and the minister and organist get into position.
James rests his hand on my knee. "This is quite the wedding."
"You can say that again."
"Do you envision your wedding being this elaborate?"
"To be honest, I didn't think I would have ever had the chance to walk down the aisle."
"Why do you say that?"
"Just because I've been in one failed relationship after another. I didn't think I'd ever meet a guy worth marrying."
He tilts his head. "Do you still think that?"
I turn my head in his direction and give him a kiss. "Of course not. You've helped me to believe that's possible again."
He smiles and squeezes my thigh.
I continue, "What about you? What do you envision your wedding to be like?"
"I've always wanted a smaller kind of ceremony. I wanted both of my parents to be there, but of course that's not possible anymore. And having my brother there is probably still out of the question."
I gaze into his eyes. His expression turns to one of slight confusion. "What?"
"Do you think we could work as a married couple?"
He smiles. "Absolutely. I'm very willing to give it a try. If I didn't think it could work, I wouldn't be sitting right here next to you."
Right as he kisses me, Patrick and Damon arrive at the church, and the organist begins playing. The sudden music startles both of us. Just as rehearsed yesterday, Troy and Olivia make their way up the aisle, followed by Barry and Geraldine, and, finally, the now ironically just-married couple. Boy, the hoops we have to jump through as gay people.
Once everyone is in position at the front of the church, the ceremony goes according to plan. The minister opens, and Patrick and Damon exchange their vows and their rings. We all erupt in applause the moment Patrick and Damon kiss. Their smiles are beaming as they hold each other's hand and practically skip down the aisle to the back of the church. Both sets of parents are just as ecstatic as they make their way down the aisle, following Patrick and Damon.
The rest of us head out of the church and make our way to the reception. Hadim and Charles spring into action, making sure all the food is ready, while Freddie and his team of bartenders start making drinks.
Patrick and Damon appear, and we all erupt in applause again. They walk up to a microphone that's set up through the PA so everyone can hear.
Damon begins, "Thank you all for being here. This is a very special day for Patrick and me, and we appreciate each and every one of you for coming.
"As many of you know, Patrick and I met in high school, and even though it took a while for us to realize it, we were meant for each other. We spent the next sixteen years loving each other more and more with each passing day. Now, we're thrilled to be able to call one another 'husband', and we cannot thank you enough for your support every single step of the way."
Patrick speaks up next. "To our parents, we couldn't have done it and we wouldn't be here without all of your love and support. We also want to thank our most amazing friends; without your help, none of this would have been possible." He then turns to Damon. "But what I'm most thankful for is you. You’ve never given up on me and you continue to amaze me with your capacity for love. I can't wait to see what the next several decades have in store for us, and I wouldn't want to go through them without you by my side. I love you, babe."
"I love you, too."
With that, Patrick and Damon kiss, and the reception hall echoes in applause again. They step away from the mic and we all grab food and drinks and visit amongst each other. James and I get to meet more of Patrick and Damon's extended family. Everyone seems so accepting and supportive of their relationship. That's something I've almost taken for granted, but I know James hasn't had it that easy at all.
Hours and hours of food, drinks, dancing, toasting, and conversing later, the reception comes to a close. Patrick and Damon head back to the hotel, presumably for some post-wedding bliss. The rest of us help clean up and pack away all the leftover alcohol. When we're done, we head back to the hotel, pack up, check out, and begin our journey back to Seattle.
Craiger
JUB Addict
And we have the wedding, and a delightful one as well. Brad and James also are opening up to the energy that this romantic event has caused. What will the future hold for them? I have my suspicions....and they are warm and fuzzy. The support for Damon and Patrick is phenomenal. If only everyone had the same. Thanks, AG, the wait was worth it and anticipation of what's to come is stirring........
Craiger
Craiger
Yes, finally, the wedding (between Patrick and Damon) has happened! It's felt like 16 years between my posting of the rehearsal and the wedding. Hah! As you said, the wedding has allowed Brad and James to see how they may feel about themselves entering into the same thing. Only time will tell what happens...
Thanks! It feels good to be back in the swing of things, writing and posting new parts. I'm glad my fan base has stuck by and will continue to enjoy more of the story as I get it out there. Thanks for reading!
Hey vater, glad you enjoyed reading! Hopefully the long wait is over and I can get back to posting regularly. Lots of stuff going on in my life. I'm just taking it one day at a time...
Part 48
Night falls before we get back to Seattle. We make our way back home along with the rest of the post-weekend traffic. We get home, bring in our suitcases, and collapse on the bed. Even though we both had a very enjoyable weekend, we are exhausted, but we muster up enough energy for a quick little romp beneath the sheets.
Since my car is still parked at work, James drops me off there in the morning. We make plans to meet up for lunch, and he kisses me goodbye and drives away.
I head up the elevator and see Eric in his office.
"Hey, Brad. How was the wedding?"
"Very touching. I haven't been to many weddings, but I don't think I've ever seen two people as in love as they are, even after sixteen years."
"Wow, they've known each other for sixteen years and they waited this long to get married?" He then gets a sheepish look on his face as he realizes what he just said. "Sorry. I guess that's something I've never had to think about."
"Don't worry about it, Eric. James and I had a great time, but I'm ready to be back here and wrap up the rest of this project. Have we heard anything from the client?"
"Yeah. That Wednesday date you picked works perfectly for them. They'll be coming in sometime that morning. Let's all meet this morning to outline what we still need to get done to prepare for that."
The rest of the team members make their way in, and we all go over what we have left to do. Everyone's about as stoked as I am to get this project finished. It's taken up a lot of our time, but hopefully we'll feel it's been worth it after we meet with the client.
I spend the next few hours doing development and testing, and watch the clock as it ticks closer and closer to lunchtime. James texts and suggests a place to eat nearby, which sounds good to me. I leave a few minutes after and meet him there.
After we place our sushi order, I look at James. "So, how's your Monday going so far?"
"How's my Monday going? You want to know how my Monday is going? As soon as I show up at the office, Dad comes to me and says, 'Paul called me late last night, and you will never believe what he told me.'"
"Did he shit himself when you guessed right?"
"Just about. We're both still a little in shock, but I've at least had a few days to process the news."
"What does he think about everything?"
"He definitely wants Paul to come see us soon. It's not doing him much good just sitting around and waiting for the investigator to get back to him."
"That's true. Has he made a decision on when to come down?"
"Not yet, but Dad is going to talk to him again tonight, and maybe they'll get something set up."
"Gosh. I wouldn't want to be going through what Paul's going through right now. I wouldn't want my husband leaving me like that, kids or no kids."
James takes my hand. "If it were me, I'd never leave you like that. Life can be hard to predict at times, but I can guarantee you I'll always be willing to make things work no matter what situation we'd find ourselves in."
I squeeze his hand. "Thanks. That means a lot to me. And likewise. I'm not one to give up easily. I'd rather work things out, too."
"Good." He smiles at me. Our lunch arrives and we make small conversation while we eat. We finish, pay, and get up to leave.
James hugs me and plants a kiss on my cheek. "I'll see you home tonight, cutie."
* * * * *
The rest of the workday goes smoothly. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel with this project. I'll be so glad when it's over.
I get home and am surprised to see James isn't home yet. He's usually home before I am. I head inside and text him to see where he is. He responds, letting me know he needs to catch up on a few things at work, but that it won't take long. He asks if I'd like him to cook salmon tonight. Delightful!
I tidy up the house a bit and relax until I hear the door open and him step in. I stand to greet him with a kiss.
He sets his stuff down on the counter. "How'd your day go, babe?"
I sigh. "All right, I guess. We suggested a meeting date to our client, and they said 'yes'. They'll be coming in to see the demo in about two weeks."
"Damn. That must make you feel excited."
"It does, but I feel nervous, too. Everything needs to be perfect for that demo."
He gives me a reassuring look. "Brad, I know you can pull it off. You're a very smart and talented guy. They've got the best person working on this project."
I feel my cheeks turning red. "Thanks." I kiss him again.
"I don't know about you, but I'm starving. How about some fish?"
"That sounds wonderful."
"It's going to taste wonderful, too."
He walks to the kitchen while I put on some soft music. Dinner doesn't take long to make, and soon we're enjoying the delectable dish he's prepared. After cleaning up the kitchen, we lie down on the couch and relax, taking comfort in each other's arms. We find ourselves nodding off, so we head upstairs, get ready for bed, and crawl under the sheets.
"Thank you for cooking, babe."
"It was my pleasure, cutie."
We kiss one more time, then he rolls over and I wrap my arms around him. What a great start to the week.
* * * * *
I get to work the next day and pop myself in front of a screen - well, three screens - for what I plan to be several hours, programming the last few features of our project and testing every tiny thing to make sure all will work impeccably during our demo.
Before I can even load everything up on my computer, my cell phone starts ringing. It's James.
I pick up. "Hey babe; what's going on?"
"I just wanted to let you know - Dad just told me he spoke to Paul last night and convinced him to fly up here for about a week."
"When is that supposed to happen?"
"Paul just bought a ticket for this Friday."
"Wow, that was quick!"
"Yeah, I know."
"How do you feel about him coming over?"
"I'm a little nervous. I think it'll be good for us to see each other, sit down, and talk through some things, but I have a feeling a lot of the past hurt is going to come right back." He sighs. "Paul needs to be around family anyway. He doesn't have a lot of support where he is now."
"That's true."
"Anyway, Dad and I will pick him up at the airport when he comes in. Would you like to meet us at Dad's house after work on Friday?"
"Are you sure you want me to be there on the first day he's here?"
"Sure. Paul even said he wants to meet you. I think the sooner he sees a happy, successful gay couple, the sooner he can believe that he can find someone and be happy, too."
"All right, Friday it is. I've got to go and get started on my work here."
"OK, Brad. I'll see you tonight."
With that, we hang up.
At lunchtime, I meet up with Gary and Harry and fill them in on everything that has happened since we last saw each other. They're just as surprised to hear about Paul's true nature as James and I were. I also tell them all about the wedding and the history between Patrick and Damon.
Harry speaks up. "So Gary, when are you finally going to ask Gina to marry you?"
"I've actually been thinking about that a lot. She and I are planning a week-long getaway to Toronto sometime in the spring. I want to go down to Niagara falls one day and propose to her there."
Harry chuckles. "Oh, that is so predictable."
I butt in. "Who cares? That sounds like the perfect romantic setting. There's beauty in the nature all around you. You and Gina can appreciate that beauty, as well as the beauty in the love you share with each other. I'd love for James to plan something like that. I can't think of a better place."
Gary looks at Harry. "See? He gets it."
I turn to Harry. "So how's your romantic life? Did you go on any dates over the weekend?"
"I went on a couple, but I don't know if I could see myself with any of them. I have a few more lined up this week and weekend, so hopefully those turn out better."
"I'm sure they will."
We wrap up lunch and I head back to the office to stare at screens and tap on keys for a few more hours.
* * * * *
Friday rolls around - the day that Paul flies into town. James didn't sleep too well the night before. He is a bit nervous about seeing his brother after years and years of not speaking to him. I would be, too.
James texts me in the afternoon while I'm at work and tells me that Paul landed safely. James and Willie are taking the rest of the day off to sit down with Paul and catch up on everything.
Near the end of the workday, Eric, the teams of developers and testers, and I hold our end-of-the-week progress and planning meeting. We have our work cut out for us for the week after, and we have a nice weekend to rest and relax before getting back into the grind. We end the meeting, and I pack up and hop in my car, destined for Willie's house.
Somehow I don't think it will be a very relaxing weekend.
Night falls before we get back to Seattle. We make our way back home along with the rest of the post-weekend traffic. We get home, bring in our suitcases, and collapse on the bed. Even though we both had a very enjoyable weekend, we are exhausted, but we muster up enough energy for a quick little romp beneath the sheets.
Since my car is still parked at work, James drops me off there in the morning. We make plans to meet up for lunch, and he kisses me goodbye and drives away.
I head up the elevator and see Eric in his office.
"Hey, Brad. How was the wedding?"
"Very touching. I haven't been to many weddings, but I don't think I've ever seen two people as in love as they are, even after sixteen years."
"Wow, they've known each other for sixteen years and they waited this long to get married?" He then gets a sheepish look on his face as he realizes what he just said. "Sorry. I guess that's something I've never had to think about."
"Don't worry about it, Eric. James and I had a great time, but I'm ready to be back here and wrap up the rest of this project. Have we heard anything from the client?"
"Yeah. That Wednesday date you picked works perfectly for them. They'll be coming in sometime that morning. Let's all meet this morning to outline what we still need to get done to prepare for that."
The rest of the team members make their way in, and we all go over what we have left to do. Everyone's about as stoked as I am to get this project finished. It's taken up a lot of our time, but hopefully we'll feel it's been worth it after we meet with the client.
I spend the next few hours doing development and testing, and watch the clock as it ticks closer and closer to lunchtime. James texts and suggests a place to eat nearby, which sounds good to me. I leave a few minutes after and meet him there.
After we place our sushi order, I look at James. "So, how's your Monday going so far?"
"How's my Monday going? You want to know how my Monday is going? As soon as I show up at the office, Dad comes to me and says, 'Paul called me late last night, and you will never believe what he told me.'"
"Did he shit himself when you guessed right?"
"Just about. We're both still a little in shock, but I've at least had a few days to process the news."
"What does he think about everything?"
"He definitely wants Paul to come see us soon. It's not doing him much good just sitting around and waiting for the investigator to get back to him."
"That's true. Has he made a decision on when to come down?"
"Not yet, but Dad is going to talk to him again tonight, and maybe they'll get something set up."
"Gosh. I wouldn't want to be going through what Paul's going through right now. I wouldn't want my husband leaving me like that, kids or no kids."
James takes my hand. "If it were me, I'd never leave you like that. Life can be hard to predict at times, but I can guarantee you I'll always be willing to make things work no matter what situation we'd find ourselves in."
I squeeze his hand. "Thanks. That means a lot to me. And likewise. I'm not one to give up easily. I'd rather work things out, too."
"Good." He smiles at me. Our lunch arrives and we make small conversation while we eat. We finish, pay, and get up to leave.
James hugs me and plants a kiss on my cheek. "I'll see you home tonight, cutie."
* * * * *
The rest of the workday goes smoothly. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel with this project. I'll be so glad when it's over.
I get home and am surprised to see James isn't home yet. He's usually home before I am. I head inside and text him to see where he is. He responds, letting me know he needs to catch up on a few things at work, but that it won't take long. He asks if I'd like him to cook salmon tonight. Delightful!
I tidy up the house a bit and relax until I hear the door open and him step in. I stand to greet him with a kiss.
He sets his stuff down on the counter. "How'd your day go, babe?"
I sigh. "All right, I guess. We suggested a meeting date to our client, and they said 'yes'. They'll be coming in to see the demo in about two weeks."
"Damn. That must make you feel excited."
"It does, but I feel nervous, too. Everything needs to be perfect for that demo."
He gives me a reassuring look. "Brad, I know you can pull it off. You're a very smart and talented guy. They've got the best person working on this project."
I feel my cheeks turning red. "Thanks." I kiss him again.
"I don't know about you, but I'm starving. How about some fish?"
"That sounds wonderful."
"It's going to taste wonderful, too."
He walks to the kitchen while I put on some soft music. Dinner doesn't take long to make, and soon we're enjoying the delectable dish he's prepared. After cleaning up the kitchen, we lie down on the couch and relax, taking comfort in each other's arms. We find ourselves nodding off, so we head upstairs, get ready for bed, and crawl under the sheets.
"Thank you for cooking, babe."
"It was my pleasure, cutie."
We kiss one more time, then he rolls over and I wrap my arms around him. What a great start to the week.
* * * * *
I get to work the next day and pop myself in front of a screen - well, three screens - for what I plan to be several hours, programming the last few features of our project and testing every tiny thing to make sure all will work impeccably during our demo.
Before I can even load everything up on my computer, my cell phone starts ringing. It's James.
I pick up. "Hey babe; what's going on?"
"I just wanted to let you know - Dad just told me he spoke to Paul last night and convinced him to fly up here for about a week."
"When is that supposed to happen?"
"Paul just bought a ticket for this Friday."
"Wow, that was quick!"
"Yeah, I know."
"How do you feel about him coming over?"
"I'm a little nervous. I think it'll be good for us to see each other, sit down, and talk through some things, but I have a feeling a lot of the past hurt is going to come right back." He sighs. "Paul needs to be around family anyway. He doesn't have a lot of support where he is now."
"That's true."
"Anyway, Dad and I will pick him up at the airport when he comes in. Would you like to meet us at Dad's house after work on Friday?"
"Are you sure you want me to be there on the first day he's here?"
"Sure. Paul even said he wants to meet you. I think the sooner he sees a happy, successful gay couple, the sooner he can believe that he can find someone and be happy, too."
"All right, Friday it is. I've got to go and get started on my work here."
"OK, Brad. I'll see you tonight."
With that, we hang up.
At lunchtime, I meet up with Gary and Harry and fill them in on everything that has happened since we last saw each other. They're just as surprised to hear about Paul's true nature as James and I were. I also tell them all about the wedding and the history between Patrick and Damon.
Harry speaks up. "So Gary, when are you finally going to ask Gina to marry you?"
"I've actually been thinking about that a lot. She and I are planning a week-long getaway to Toronto sometime in the spring. I want to go down to Niagara falls one day and propose to her there."
Harry chuckles. "Oh, that is so predictable."
I butt in. "Who cares? That sounds like the perfect romantic setting. There's beauty in the nature all around you. You and Gina can appreciate that beauty, as well as the beauty in the love you share with each other. I'd love for James to plan something like that. I can't think of a better place."
Gary looks at Harry. "See? He gets it."
I turn to Harry. "So how's your romantic life? Did you go on any dates over the weekend?"
"I went on a couple, but I don't know if I could see myself with any of them. I have a few more lined up this week and weekend, so hopefully those turn out better."
"I'm sure they will."
We wrap up lunch and I head back to the office to stare at screens and tap on keys for a few more hours.
* * * * *
Friday rolls around - the day that Paul flies into town. James didn't sleep too well the night before. He is a bit nervous about seeing his brother after years and years of not speaking to him. I would be, too.
James texts me in the afternoon while I'm at work and tells me that Paul landed safely. James and Willie are taking the rest of the day off to sit down with Paul and catch up on everything.
Near the end of the workday, Eric, the teams of developers and testers, and I hold our end-of-the-week progress and planning meeting. We have our work cut out for us for the week after, and we have a nice weekend to rest and relax before getting back into the grind. We end the meeting, and I pack up and hop in my car, destined for Willie's house.
Somehow I don't think it will be a very relaxing weekend.
Craiger
JUB Addict
Paul's arrival will make for an interesting weekend for sure. It's good that James, Willie and Paul had their meeting before Brad gets there. Hopefully the comfort level at Willie's will be good. It was good catching up with Gary and Harry as well. Poor Harry -- I wonder if he will ever settle down. If he doesn't fairly soon he will have to take on the title "Bachelor Man." That's similar to "Old Maid".....
At least Gary has some romantic plans for he and Gina. Fun chapter, AG. Can't wait to see how everything goes in meeting Paul.
Craiger
At least Gary has some romantic plans for he and Gina. Fun chapter, AG. Can't wait to see how everything goes in meeting Paul.
Craiger
Paul's arrival will make for an interesting weekend for sure. It's good that James, Willie and Paul had their meeting before Brad gets there. Hopefully the comfort level at Willie's will be good. It was good catching up with Gary and Harry as well. Poor Harry -- I wonder if he will ever settle down. If he doesn't fairly soon he will have to take on the title "Bachelor Man." That's similar to "Old Maid".....
At least Gary has some romantic plans for he and Gina. Fun chapter, AG. Can't wait to see how everything goes in meeting Paul.
Craiger
La la la la la la la..........
Interesting? Yes. That's about all I'll reveal at this point...
We'll see if romance is in the stars for Harry. Poor guy - he hasn't had much luck, huh?
Paul will be in town for a week, so there will be plenty of time for the guys to spend with each other. The reunion is long overdue...
72-Jay
Daydreamer
Very nice to see not just 1, but 2 more parts added to the story! thanks for the update
deff will be interesting to see what happens with Paul
deff will be interesting to see what happens with Paul
Very nice to see not just 1, but 2 more parts added to the story! thanks for the update
deff will be interesting to see what happens with Paul
Thanks 72! Next part will be posted tonight. The writing and posting is going to get very sporadic over the next few weeks as I prepare for my upcoming move, but know that this story is long from over!
Part 49
I pull up to Willie's house. Wow! If you thought James's house was impressive, this place puts even the Portland hotel to shame. Why didn't I go to law school?
I get out and walk up to the front door. I can feel my heart beating faster and stronger as I get closer. I really don't know what to expect. Will Paul like me? What have the three of them talked about so far? What are they going to do about Paul's kids?
I feel myself starting to turn into an ice cube. I ring the bell.
James answers the door. "Oh good, you're here. Dinner's almost ready."
"Dinner?"
"Yeah, I decided to cook for all of us. Red beans and rice."
I step inside and he shuts the door. "A Southern dish?"
"That's right. Paul at one time got in with some Baptists in the South and fell in love with it."
"The Baptists or the red beans and rice?"
"Well, both at first. I'm sure you can figure out which one he tossed aside."
"Doesn't take a genius."
He pinches my cheek. "Even if it did, you'd still get it right."
Well, it sounds like things are going well so far...
We walk into the kitchen, which is almost the same size as my old apartment. James tends to the pots and pans on the stove, and I notice Paul and Willie sitting at a high-top table. As soon as Willie sees me, he stands up. I walk toward him and shake his hand.
Paul stands up next and shakes my hand. "You must be James's boyfriend. I'm Paul."
"Hi Paul. It's great to finally meet you. James has told me a lot about you."
An awkward silence fills the room for a few seconds until Paul continues. "I'm sure he has. He's told me a lot about you, too. You seem like a great guy."
"Thanks. James is a great guy, too."
"I know. I'm glad you have each other in your lives."
Willie pats me on the shoulder. "Take a load off, Brad. You've been working hard. What can I get you to drink?"
Before I can even open my mouth, James turns to us from the stove. "I'll get it, Dad." With a swift motion that can only come about from years of practice in the kitchen, he gives one final stir to the beans, places a lid on the pot, shuts off the heat, then grabs a martini glass and things to make a Lemon Drop.
I take a seat across from Paul as he speaks up. "James, you remind me so much of Mom with the way you move around the kitchen."
James begins pouring the ingredients into a shaker. "And you remind me of Mom for other reasons."
"Boys," Willie growls, a stern expression on his face.
James takes a deep breath, shakes the ingredients rather vigorously, then pours the resulting concoction in the glass and hands it to me. I don't think I've ever seen so much froth on a drink before.
"Thanks, babe."
He forces a smile. "You're welcome." He looks up at the others. "Dinner is ready."
We all serve ourselves a portion of red beans and rice and sit back down at the table. James and I sit on one side while Willie and Paul sit across from us.
Paul takes a bite and lets out a satisfying, "Mmm! James, this is delicious!"
James doesn't respond.
The next few minutes are tensely silent as we continue eating. That always seems to be the case anytime James and his father get together to eat, at least whenever I'm around. I glance up and share quick looks with both Paul and Willie. We can all tell that James is trying his best to be civil, but it's impossible to erase years and years of pain.
Willie finally breaks the silence. "So Brad, how are things going with your project?"
"Pretty well, actually. We're still ahead of schedule, and our client will be coming in about a week-and-a-half for a demo."
"That's wonderful!"
"It is, but that just means we'll start on the next project that much sooner."
"I would want nothing less than a long vacation after that sort of thing! You and James still planning to go to Denver afterwards?"
"Yes, as long as the roads are clear by then."
Paul speaks up. "You're not flying?"
"It's almost the same cost to drive as it is for two plane tickets. Plus, we're planning on taking some side trips along the way."
Paul continues, "So what's in Denver?"
"My mom lives there."
"And your dad?"
"He, er, died a few years ago."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's OK. He was in the military, and even though I didn't get to see him very often, we were as close as we could be."
"And your mom's doing all right?"
"She is. She was actually up here just a couple months ago. She's a very strong woman, in every way you can imagine."
"Well, it seems like she did a wonderful job with you."
I feel myself start to blush. "Thanks."
James looks up at Paul. "You do realize he's already with someone, right?"
Paul gets a puzzled expression on his face. "What do you mean? I'm just trying to have a nice conversation."
"That's fine, as long as that doesn't involve flirting with my boyfriend."
"I wasn't flirting; I was just paying him a compliment."
"Well, find someone else for you to pay your compliments."
Willie looks at me with an I'm-so-sorry-you-have-to-witness-this expression, and then turns to Paul and James. "Stop it, both of you. Brad is sitting right there. How dare you pick a fight over him? James, Paul is well aware that you and Brad are together, and he is not trying to steal him away from you. He's just trying to be nice, something you should try for a change.
"You boys have been stuck in this pattern ever since James came out. Time and even space apart has not changed anything." He looks straight at James. "It took Brad to get you to call Paul. No matter how hard I tried, nothing convinced you, but I'm so thankful that Brad was finally able to talk some sense into you. I never thought I would see my two boys together again, never thought anything could have been done to fix things.
"Without Brad, you two would not be here right now, and might have never seen or spoken to each other again. I should be on my fucking hands and knees thanking him, and you should be, too. You and Paul are brothers. You're family. We're family. Brad included. Whether he likes that or not right now, he's a part of this just as I am and just as you and Paul are.
"Paul knows that he said some pretty awful things to you in the past, but that was fifteen years ago. He's willing to try to make things better. Give him a chance and stop being so hostile. He's not the same as he was fifteen years ago, and neither are you. Stop treating this like you're both back in high school. You're both grown up now; start acting like it.
"I am so sick of sitting back and being the nice guy. That's what got our family into this fucking mess in the first place. I'll be damned if I'm going to let it get worse, but if it does, at least it's not because I've sat back and done nothing about it.
"I love you boys. James, I know you love Brad. Why can't you find it in your heart to love Paul, too? How can you have such a warm heart toward Brad and a cold heart toward Paul? How is that possible? I don't think I will ever understand that. You boys loved each other when you were younger. Please, whatever we have to do, let's just go back to that. You boys are all I have left. Mom died when you two weren't even speaking to each other. Please don't let it be the same for me. Find some way to fix this between you two."
I had my head down the entire time Willie was giving his speech. I glance up and see him shaking. He looks at me with the most desperate expression I've ever seen on anyone, and then gets up and walks out of the kitchen, leaving me with James and Paul. That part he said about 'whether or not liking being a part of this'? Right now - not a huge fan.
Forever seems to pass until I hear Paul speak up. "James, as much as I'd like to, I can't undo the past. I made some horrible decisions, but I didn't know any better back then. I thought I was doing the right thing."
"Doing the right thing? By basically condemning me to Hell for what you thought was a sinful life?"
"Yes. I was so mistaken, so manipulated, so brainwashed. I've realized that, and-"
James cuts him off. "You think you can just come back home and expect everything to be back to normal? Back to what it was like before?"
"It can be, if we can just agree to be civil-"
James cuts him off again and begins getting more aggressive. "Fuck civil! You don't get to come back here and tell me everything is OK. After what you put me through? It took years for me to finally accept myself. Do you have any idea how hard it is to do that when your family doesn't support you?"
"I do now."
"Well, it's a lot harder when you're younger."
"Excuse me? You have no idea how hard my situation is. I know I didn't make things easier for you when we were younger, but I'm trying to tell you I understand how it feels and that I'm sorry for everything I've done."
"Well at least I'm not trying to make your situation any more difficult."
"But you are! I have nowhere else to turn. All I have are you and Dad. And you are the only one who really understands me - the real me. No one else comes close. Can't you see that? I need you right now."
James pushes his chair back and stands up, which startles me. "You need me? WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I NEEDED YOU?!"
"Nowhere. I was scared. I ran away."
"For fifteen years! My older brother - the guy I looked up to since as far back as I can remember, the guy I shared so many good memories with. You left me with no closure! Nothing! I had to spend all this time learning how to accept myself and convince myself that it was OK to be gay."
"I know that. I'm sorry. But I wanted to come back now."
"WHY, THEN? WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU BACK NOW?!"
"Because I still love you, James, and I want to see you happy. I have never stopped loving you."
"I NEVER STOPPED LOVING YOU, EITHER. CAN'T YOU SEE THAT'S WHY I'M HURTING SO MUCH?! YOU ABANDONED ME. FOR FIFTEEN YEARS! AND NOW YOU EXPECT EVERYTHING TO GO BACK TO HOW IT WAS? IT'S NOT THAT GOD DAMNED EASY!"
James walks over to the counter and faces away from us. He leans forward against the counter and takes a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself. I think about going over to him to comfort him, but think twice and keep my distance.
Paul takes a deep breath and stands up. "You're right, James. It's not easy. It hasn't been easy for you or for me. And this isn't going to be easy for any of us.
"I can't take back the past fifteen years. I'd give anything to do that if I could. But I can't. The only thing I can do is tell you that I love you, and that I finally understand how you feel and what you've gone through.
"I came clean, and my wife left me. Took the kids right with her. It finally clicked for me. I had no one. My one and only source of support was gone. Believe it or not, she kept me grounded. Grounded in an illusion, but still grounded.
"I realized I did the same for you - I was your support - up until you came clean to me. And my wife abandoned me just like I did to you fifteen years earlier. It finally hit me. It really did. The morning she left with the kids, I didn't know when they'd be back. I tried calling, over and over. Nothing.
"I kept convincing myself that she'd be back and that everything would be all right. That lasted almost two weeks, and then it broke. I broke. I broke down bad. I had been lying to myself, trying to hold this illusion up for such a long time, since before you even came out. Yes, I've known myself to be gay for that long. I tried so hard to bury it when I was younger and was doing a pretty good job of it. Hell, a wife and two kids later, I thought I was doing a pretty fucking fantastic job. But every once in a while I faltered and needed to feel a man's touch. I convinced myself as long as it didn't happen too often and I always went back to my wife and kids, I could keep this secret hidden and that my marriage would survive.
"So yes, even though it took me years longer and I got myself involved in a lot more shit than you did, I understand. We've both gone through the same struggles, experienced the same hardships, gotten tossed around by people we love, and were left with only ourselves to pick up the pieces. The only difference is you were always a loving brother to me while I failed you. I left you to fend for yourself when you needed me the most. I can't take back the past. The only thing I can do is try to make things better now. But I can't do that alone. I can't do that if you keep shutting me out of your life.
"Please don't make the same mistake I did. I feel horrible for that, and I know I don't deserve your love or your forgiveness, but I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me anyway."
Minutes pass. The room is so quiet, so still, that I can feel my own heart beating. And it's pounding.
James finally turns around, tears in his eyes. "I just want to stop hurting, Paul."
"Then be done hurting, and start loving."
James takes a deep breath, then walks over to Paul and throws his arms around him and pulls him into a tight hug. "I never stopped loving."
Paul hugs James back. "Me neither."
My own waterworks start, and I catch a glimpse of Willie. He must have seen the whole scene from a distance. He walks into the kitchen and wraps his arms around his two sons, and the three spend a long time holding each other. I stand by patiently as we all take this moment in - something I think all of us deep down wanted - needed - to have happen.
-------
Oceanlab - Come Home (Michael Cassestte Remix)
I pull up to Willie's house. Wow! If you thought James's house was impressive, this place puts even the Portland hotel to shame. Why didn't I go to law school?
I get out and walk up to the front door. I can feel my heart beating faster and stronger as I get closer. I really don't know what to expect. Will Paul like me? What have the three of them talked about so far? What are they going to do about Paul's kids?
I feel myself starting to turn into an ice cube. I ring the bell.
James answers the door. "Oh good, you're here. Dinner's almost ready."
"Dinner?"
"Yeah, I decided to cook for all of us. Red beans and rice."
I step inside and he shuts the door. "A Southern dish?"
"That's right. Paul at one time got in with some Baptists in the South and fell in love with it."
"The Baptists or the red beans and rice?"
"Well, both at first. I'm sure you can figure out which one he tossed aside."
"Doesn't take a genius."
He pinches my cheek. "Even if it did, you'd still get it right."
Well, it sounds like things are going well so far...
We walk into the kitchen, which is almost the same size as my old apartment. James tends to the pots and pans on the stove, and I notice Paul and Willie sitting at a high-top table. As soon as Willie sees me, he stands up. I walk toward him and shake his hand.
Paul stands up next and shakes my hand. "You must be James's boyfriend. I'm Paul."
"Hi Paul. It's great to finally meet you. James has told me a lot about you."
An awkward silence fills the room for a few seconds until Paul continues. "I'm sure he has. He's told me a lot about you, too. You seem like a great guy."
"Thanks. James is a great guy, too."
"I know. I'm glad you have each other in your lives."
Willie pats me on the shoulder. "Take a load off, Brad. You've been working hard. What can I get you to drink?"
Before I can even open my mouth, James turns to us from the stove. "I'll get it, Dad." With a swift motion that can only come about from years of practice in the kitchen, he gives one final stir to the beans, places a lid on the pot, shuts off the heat, then grabs a martini glass and things to make a Lemon Drop.
I take a seat across from Paul as he speaks up. "James, you remind me so much of Mom with the way you move around the kitchen."
James begins pouring the ingredients into a shaker. "And you remind me of Mom for other reasons."
"Boys," Willie growls, a stern expression on his face.
James takes a deep breath, shakes the ingredients rather vigorously, then pours the resulting concoction in the glass and hands it to me. I don't think I've ever seen so much froth on a drink before.
"Thanks, babe."
He forces a smile. "You're welcome." He looks up at the others. "Dinner is ready."
We all serve ourselves a portion of red beans and rice and sit back down at the table. James and I sit on one side while Willie and Paul sit across from us.
Paul takes a bite and lets out a satisfying, "Mmm! James, this is delicious!"
James doesn't respond.
The next few minutes are tensely silent as we continue eating. That always seems to be the case anytime James and his father get together to eat, at least whenever I'm around. I glance up and share quick looks with both Paul and Willie. We can all tell that James is trying his best to be civil, but it's impossible to erase years and years of pain.
Willie finally breaks the silence. "So Brad, how are things going with your project?"
"Pretty well, actually. We're still ahead of schedule, and our client will be coming in about a week-and-a-half for a demo."
"That's wonderful!"
"It is, but that just means we'll start on the next project that much sooner."
"I would want nothing less than a long vacation after that sort of thing! You and James still planning to go to Denver afterwards?"
"Yes, as long as the roads are clear by then."
Paul speaks up. "You're not flying?"
"It's almost the same cost to drive as it is for two plane tickets. Plus, we're planning on taking some side trips along the way."
Paul continues, "So what's in Denver?"
"My mom lives there."
"And your dad?"
"He, er, died a few years ago."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's OK. He was in the military, and even though I didn't get to see him very often, we were as close as we could be."
"And your mom's doing all right?"
"She is. She was actually up here just a couple months ago. She's a very strong woman, in every way you can imagine."
"Well, it seems like she did a wonderful job with you."
I feel myself start to blush. "Thanks."
James looks up at Paul. "You do realize he's already with someone, right?"
Paul gets a puzzled expression on his face. "What do you mean? I'm just trying to have a nice conversation."
"That's fine, as long as that doesn't involve flirting with my boyfriend."
"I wasn't flirting; I was just paying him a compliment."
"Well, find someone else for you to pay your compliments."
Willie looks at me with an I'm-so-sorry-you-have-to-witness-this expression, and then turns to Paul and James. "Stop it, both of you. Brad is sitting right there. How dare you pick a fight over him? James, Paul is well aware that you and Brad are together, and he is not trying to steal him away from you. He's just trying to be nice, something you should try for a change.
"You boys have been stuck in this pattern ever since James came out. Time and even space apart has not changed anything." He looks straight at James. "It took Brad to get you to call Paul. No matter how hard I tried, nothing convinced you, but I'm so thankful that Brad was finally able to talk some sense into you. I never thought I would see my two boys together again, never thought anything could have been done to fix things.
"Without Brad, you two would not be here right now, and might have never seen or spoken to each other again. I should be on my fucking hands and knees thanking him, and you should be, too. You and Paul are brothers. You're family. We're family. Brad included. Whether he likes that or not right now, he's a part of this just as I am and just as you and Paul are.
"Paul knows that he said some pretty awful things to you in the past, but that was fifteen years ago. He's willing to try to make things better. Give him a chance and stop being so hostile. He's not the same as he was fifteen years ago, and neither are you. Stop treating this like you're both back in high school. You're both grown up now; start acting like it.
"I am so sick of sitting back and being the nice guy. That's what got our family into this fucking mess in the first place. I'll be damned if I'm going to let it get worse, but if it does, at least it's not because I've sat back and done nothing about it.
"I love you boys. James, I know you love Brad. Why can't you find it in your heart to love Paul, too? How can you have such a warm heart toward Brad and a cold heart toward Paul? How is that possible? I don't think I will ever understand that. You boys loved each other when you were younger. Please, whatever we have to do, let's just go back to that. You boys are all I have left. Mom died when you two weren't even speaking to each other. Please don't let it be the same for me. Find some way to fix this between you two."
I had my head down the entire time Willie was giving his speech. I glance up and see him shaking. He looks at me with the most desperate expression I've ever seen on anyone, and then gets up and walks out of the kitchen, leaving me with James and Paul. That part he said about 'whether or not liking being a part of this'? Right now - not a huge fan.
Forever seems to pass until I hear Paul speak up. "James, as much as I'd like to, I can't undo the past. I made some horrible decisions, but I didn't know any better back then. I thought I was doing the right thing."
"Doing the right thing? By basically condemning me to Hell for what you thought was a sinful life?"
"Yes. I was so mistaken, so manipulated, so brainwashed. I've realized that, and-"
James cuts him off. "You think you can just come back home and expect everything to be back to normal? Back to what it was like before?"
"It can be, if we can just agree to be civil-"
James cuts him off again and begins getting more aggressive. "Fuck civil! You don't get to come back here and tell me everything is OK. After what you put me through? It took years for me to finally accept myself. Do you have any idea how hard it is to do that when your family doesn't support you?"
"I do now."
"Well, it's a lot harder when you're younger."
"Excuse me? You have no idea how hard my situation is. I know I didn't make things easier for you when we were younger, but I'm trying to tell you I understand how it feels and that I'm sorry for everything I've done."
"Well at least I'm not trying to make your situation any more difficult."
"But you are! I have nowhere else to turn. All I have are you and Dad. And you are the only one who really understands me - the real me. No one else comes close. Can't you see that? I need you right now."
James pushes his chair back and stands up, which startles me. "You need me? WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I NEEDED YOU?!"
"Nowhere. I was scared. I ran away."
"For fifteen years! My older brother - the guy I looked up to since as far back as I can remember, the guy I shared so many good memories with. You left me with no closure! Nothing! I had to spend all this time learning how to accept myself and convince myself that it was OK to be gay."
"I know that. I'm sorry. But I wanted to come back now."
"WHY, THEN? WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU BACK NOW?!"
"Because I still love you, James, and I want to see you happy. I have never stopped loving you."
"I NEVER STOPPED LOVING YOU, EITHER. CAN'T YOU SEE THAT'S WHY I'M HURTING SO MUCH?! YOU ABANDONED ME. FOR FIFTEEN YEARS! AND NOW YOU EXPECT EVERYTHING TO GO BACK TO HOW IT WAS? IT'S NOT THAT GOD DAMNED EASY!"
James walks over to the counter and faces away from us. He leans forward against the counter and takes a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself. I think about going over to him to comfort him, but think twice and keep my distance.
Paul takes a deep breath and stands up. "You're right, James. It's not easy. It hasn't been easy for you or for me. And this isn't going to be easy for any of us.
"I can't take back the past fifteen years. I'd give anything to do that if I could. But I can't. The only thing I can do is tell you that I love you, and that I finally understand how you feel and what you've gone through.
"I came clean, and my wife left me. Took the kids right with her. It finally clicked for me. I had no one. My one and only source of support was gone. Believe it or not, she kept me grounded. Grounded in an illusion, but still grounded.
"I realized I did the same for you - I was your support - up until you came clean to me. And my wife abandoned me just like I did to you fifteen years earlier. It finally hit me. It really did. The morning she left with the kids, I didn't know when they'd be back. I tried calling, over and over. Nothing.
"I kept convincing myself that she'd be back and that everything would be all right. That lasted almost two weeks, and then it broke. I broke. I broke down bad. I had been lying to myself, trying to hold this illusion up for such a long time, since before you even came out. Yes, I've known myself to be gay for that long. I tried so hard to bury it when I was younger and was doing a pretty good job of it. Hell, a wife and two kids later, I thought I was doing a pretty fucking fantastic job. But every once in a while I faltered and needed to feel a man's touch. I convinced myself as long as it didn't happen too often and I always went back to my wife and kids, I could keep this secret hidden and that my marriage would survive.
"So yes, even though it took me years longer and I got myself involved in a lot more shit than you did, I understand. We've both gone through the same struggles, experienced the same hardships, gotten tossed around by people we love, and were left with only ourselves to pick up the pieces. The only difference is you were always a loving brother to me while I failed you. I left you to fend for yourself when you needed me the most. I can't take back the past. The only thing I can do is try to make things better now. But I can't do that alone. I can't do that if you keep shutting me out of your life.
"Please don't make the same mistake I did. I feel horrible for that, and I know I don't deserve your love or your forgiveness, but I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me anyway."
Minutes pass. The room is so quiet, so still, that I can feel my own heart beating. And it's pounding.
James finally turns around, tears in his eyes. "I just want to stop hurting, Paul."
"Then be done hurting, and start loving."
James takes a deep breath, then walks over to Paul and throws his arms around him and pulls him into a tight hug. "I never stopped loving."
Paul hugs James back. "Me neither."
My own waterworks start, and I catch a glimpse of Willie. He must have seen the whole scene from a distance. He walks into the kitchen and wraps his arms around his two sons, and the three spend a long time holding each other. I stand by patiently as we all take this moment in - something I think all of us deep down wanted - needed - to have happen.
-------
Oceanlab - Come Home (Michael Cassestte Remix)
Craiger
JUB Addict
Well, I think the waterworks started for everyone, AG, including me. Such an intense and telling chapter. Sometimes, in order to break a barrier, yelling and shouting has to happen. Getting the frustrations out in the open helps clear the path for forgiveness. Now it's time for James and Paul to mend completely. There will always be the hurt hidden in the recesses of James' mind, and he will still remember them from time to time, however, the future willingness to forgive will help continue to push them a little deeper. Thanks for such a wonderful chapter.
Craiger
Craiger
Powerful chapter. You know AG, we readers don't know how much the author takes from real life experience when he creates. This saga of love and torment could be 100% fiction, solely based upon your gifted imagination. Or, it could be based upon 10% real life experience, 25%, 50%, 100%. Whatever it is, it seems real to us and that's exactly what you want. Glad your back. Continue to love your work.
72-Jay
Daydreamer
Been months since I last checked in on this story..
Just read chapter 49 (& a good one it was)
Hope to see more added eventually!
Just read chapter 49 (& a good one it was)
Hope to see more added eventually!
Hey readers!
It's been quite a while ("no shit!"). Since I last wrote, I moved all the way across the United States to southwest Washington near Portland, Oregon. A lot has happened since then, but things have settled, allowing me to devote more time to fleshing out more of this story. I want to thank each and every one of my readers - even those who haven't commented - for reading and keeping up with the story. There's much more to come.
---
Part 50
James, Paul, and Willie break their hug. I continue to look on without saying a word.
James takes a deep breath and looks up. “Paul, I’m really glad you’re back in my life. But,” he hesitates, “this is all still so very new to me. I need to step out and get some fresh air. I think—”
Paul cuts him off, placing his hand on his brother’s chest. “Shh. You don’t need to explain. Take all the time you need. I’m not going to leave you this time.”
James takes Paul’s hand in his and gives it a squeeze. “Thanks, Paul.” He then turns and walks toward me. “Can you join me outside?”
“Sure.”
We both walk together out the front door and sit in some pretty comfortable chairs on the outside porch.
James stares off into the distance. It is quiet for the next few moments until he lets out a rather loud sigh. “God damn, what I wouldn’t give for a joint right now.”
I don’t know whether he’s joking or being serious, so I just laugh quietly to myself.
He turns to look at me. “Brad, you may as well leave me right now. Things are only going to get more hectic from here, you know.”
I shrug my shoulders, and then stand up. “OK.” I being walking away, and a few seconds later, I hear a gasp.
“I was just joking!”
I turn around, run to James, bend down, and kiss him on the lips. “I know, hun.” We both chuckle. I continue, “It wouldn’t be life if things didn’t get hectic every once in a while. You stayed by my side when things have gotten crazy in my life, and that’s worth everything to me. You’re worth everything to me. It’s worth more than any challenge or obstacle we have yet to face.”
He tilts his head and smiles. “I’m so glad I have you in my life. I don’t think I can ever express with words how grateful I am for you. It just runs so deeply.”
“I feel exactly the same for you. I don’t know where I’d be without you, and I don’t really want to think about it.” I lean down and kiss him once more. “Now come on, let’s go back inside. They’re probably worried that we’ve frozen solid out here.”
James chuckles. With that, we head back inside the house.
It's been quite a while ("no shit!"). Since I last wrote, I moved all the way across the United States to southwest Washington near Portland, Oregon. A lot has happened since then, but things have settled, allowing me to devote more time to fleshing out more of this story. I want to thank each and every one of my readers - even those who haven't commented - for reading and keeping up with the story. There's much more to come.
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Part 50
James, Paul, and Willie break their hug. I continue to look on without saying a word.
James takes a deep breath and looks up. “Paul, I’m really glad you’re back in my life. But,” he hesitates, “this is all still so very new to me. I need to step out and get some fresh air. I think—”
Paul cuts him off, placing his hand on his brother’s chest. “Shh. You don’t need to explain. Take all the time you need. I’m not going to leave you this time.”
James takes Paul’s hand in his and gives it a squeeze. “Thanks, Paul.” He then turns and walks toward me. “Can you join me outside?”
“Sure.”
We both walk together out the front door and sit in some pretty comfortable chairs on the outside porch.
James stares off into the distance. It is quiet for the next few moments until he lets out a rather loud sigh. “God damn, what I wouldn’t give for a joint right now.”
I don’t know whether he’s joking or being serious, so I just laugh quietly to myself.
He turns to look at me. “Brad, you may as well leave me right now. Things are only going to get more hectic from here, you know.”
I shrug my shoulders, and then stand up. “OK.” I being walking away, and a few seconds later, I hear a gasp.
“I was just joking!”
I turn around, run to James, bend down, and kiss him on the lips. “I know, hun.” We both chuckle. I continue, “It wouldn’t be life if things didn’t get hectic every once in a while. You stayed by my side when things have gotten crazy in my life, and that’s worth everything to me. You’re worth everything to me. It’s worth more than any challenge or obstacle we have yet to face.”
He tilts his head and smiles. “I’m so glad I have you in my life. I don’t think I can ever express with words how grateful I am for you. It just runs so deeply.”
“I feel exactly the same for you. I don’t know where I’d be without you, and I don’t really want to think about it.” I lean down and kiss him once more. “Now come on, let’s go back inside. They’re probably worried that we’ve frozen solid out here.”
James chuckles. With that, we head back inside the house.
